Kingston - Jamaican sprinter Steve Mullings has received a life ban after being found guilty of a second doping offence.
According to the BBC website, the 28-year-old was found to have used the banned diuretic furosemide, which can act as a masking agent for other drugs.
He previously served a two-year ban after testing positive for excessive levels of testosterone in 2004.
Mullings, the sixth fastest man of all time over 100m, won gold in the 4x100m relay at the 2009 World Championships.
"The panel believes a clear and strong message must be sent to every athlete in Jamaica and elsewhere that prohibited substances will not be tolerated in sports," said Jamaican anti-doping disciplinary panel chairman Lennox Gayle.
Gayle added that the panel's decision had been unanimous.
Mullings, who has denied knowingly taking any banned substance, did not attend the hearing.
According to the BBC website, the 28-year-old was found to have used the banned diuretic furosemide, which can act as a masking agent for other drugs.
He previously served a two-year ban after testing positive for excessive levels of testosterone in 2004.
Mullings, the sixth fastest man of all time over 100m, won gold in the 4x100m relay at the 2009 World Championships.
"The panel believes a clear and strong message must be sent to every athlete in Jamaica and elsewhere that prohibited substances will not be tolerated in sports," said Jamaican anti-doping disciplinary panel chairman Lennox Gayle.
Gayle added that the panel's decision had been unanimous.
Mullings, who has denied knowingly taking any banned substance, did not attend the hearing.